TRAILER ASSEMBLY
First Claim
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1. A trailer assembly comprising:
- a lead trailer comprising a body having a front end and a rear end, the front end comprising connection means for connection to a prime mover and the rear end comprising at least one lead trailer wheel assembly having a self-steering axle;
a rear trailer comprising a body having a front end and a rear end, the rear end comprising at least one rear trailer wheel assembly; and
a coupling means between the lead trailer and the rear trailer, wherein the coupling means comprises two laterally spaced connections between following connected trailers to substantially prevent pivoting of one trailer to another around a vertical axis; and
a steering control means for controlling at least one lead trailer wheel assembly of a multiple axle wheel assembly acting separately or in unison and at least one rear trailer wheel assembly of a multiple axle wheel assembly acting separately or in unison wherein the operation between the lead trailer wheel assembly and the rear trailer wheel assembly is coordinated with the connection to the prime mover;
wherein the coupling means allows the rear trailer to pivot relative to the lead trailer substantially about a generally horizontal coupling axis extending transverse to the longitudinal length of the lead trailer; and
wherein the steering control means controls automatically, the at least one lead trailer wheel assembly of a multiple axle wheel and the at least one rear trailer wheel assembly of a multiple axle wheel.
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Abstract
A trailer assembly with improved lateral support structure and steering system control of the axial wheels on a front elongated trailer and a rear elongated trailer to remain in a collinear following configuration to carry elongated loads extending over the extended lengths of the combination of the front elongated trailer and the rear elongated trailer and allow ready turning control.
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24 Claims
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1. A trailer assembly comprising:
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a lead trailer comprising a body having a front end and a rear end, the front end comprising connection means for connection to a prime mover and the rear end comprising at least one lead trailer wheel assembly having a self-steering axle; a rear trailer comprising a body having a front end and a rear end, the rear end comprising at least one rear trailer wheel assembly; and a coupling means between the lead trailer and the rear trailer, wherein the coupling means comprises two laterally spaced connections between following connected trailers to substantially prevent pivoting of one trailer to another around a vertical axis; and a steering control means for controlling at least one lead trailer wheel assembly of a multiple axle wheel assembly acting separately or in unison and at least one rear trailer wheel assembly of a multiple axle wheel assembly acting separately or in unison wherein the operation between the lead trailer wheel assembly and the rear trailer wheel assembly is coordinated with the connection to the prime mover; wherein the coupling means allows the rear trailer to pivot relative to the lead trailer substantially about a generally horizontal coupling axis extending transverse to the longitudinal length of the lead trailer; and wherein the steering control means controls automatically, the at least one lead trailer wheel assembly of a multiple axle wheel and the at least one rear trailer wheel assembly of a multiple axle wheel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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- 19. A coupling assembly for coupling a lead trailer to a rear trailer, the coupling assembly allowing the rear trailer to pivot relative to the lead trailer only about a generally horizontal coupling axis extending transverse to the longitudinal length of the lead trailer.
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22. A method of transporting and steering extensive elongated loads using a prime mover and multiple elongated trailers each having a set of rear wheels comprising the steps of:
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a. providing a pivotal connection at a front of a front trailer around a vertical axis for connection to and pulling by a prime mover; b. providing a connection between an overlapping rear of the front trailer and the front of the rear trailer over a rear set of supporting wheels of the front trailer; c. providing lateral stability coupling systems on the sides of the overlapping rear of the front trailer and the front of the rear trailer substantially preventing pivoting rotation of one trailer to the connected other trailer around a vertical axis; d. providing a locking mechanism for a part of or the set of supporting wheels of the front trailer and the rear trailer; e. controlling the locking mechanism of the part of or the set of supporting wheels of the front trailer and the rear trailer such that generally, if the supporting wheels of the front trailer are locked, the supporting wheels of the rear trailer are unlocked and able to self-steer by the motion effected by the steering and pulling motion of the prime mover. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
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Specification